Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Swing Time Yellow’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Swing Time Yellow,’ having golden yellow single flowers with a flat capitulum form. The new variety has a medium vigor, free branching habit and good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is‘Swing Time Yellow.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Swing Time Yellow.’ ‘Swing TimeYellow,’ identified as 20230-6, originated as a naturally occurringwhole plant mutation grown in a controlled planting of the variety‘Swing Time Dark’ (U.S. Plant patent application Publication No. U.S.2003/0009810), in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The newvariety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetativecuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Swing Time Yellow’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety havinggolden yellow single flowers.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ are similarto the parent ‘Swing Time Dark’ in plant habitat and growth rate. Inside-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety‘Swing Time Yellow’ compared to the plants of the parent ‘Swing TimeDark’ in the following characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ produces yellow single        flowers whereas the parent ‘Swing Time Dark’ produces deep        orange single flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ have similar        inflorescence to plants of the parent ‘Swing Time Dark’.

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ are similarto ‘Virunga Yellow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,991), in plant habitat andgrowth rate. However, in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ differed from plants of‘Virunga Yellow’ in the following characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ produces golden yellow        single flowers whereas ‘Virunga Yellow’ produces yellow single        flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ have smaller        and shorter inflorescence than plants of ‘Virunga Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Swing Time Yellow’ are shown in the accompanying digitalphotograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usuallimits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Swing Time Yellow’grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 56 days from thecommencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Swing TimeYellow’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom in the month of May. The cultivar has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in the environment such as temperature,length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. Thecommercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C.during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 footcandles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such asB9 treatment at about 2 g per liter. To produce a commercial product theplants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typicalcontainer size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has been observedthat the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with a responsetime of about 7.5 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in atemperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a spray. The following description iswith respect to a plant produced as pot Chrysanthemum. In thedescription of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have beentaken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot-   Habit: Upright-   Height: 24 cm-   Width: 32 cm-   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching-   Length of lateral branches: 16 cm-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.5 cm-   Surface of lateral branches: Slightly pubescent-   Number of breaks from pinch: 5-   Stem color: 137C-   Response time: 52 days-   Vigor: Medium-   Shelf life: 21 days-   Disease/pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to    date-   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter    B9 @ 2, 21 and 28 days after sticking unrooted cuttings.

The plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours oflight) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative propagation via stem cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.        -   Rooting habit.—After 7 days the first roots emerge and form            root primordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system is            developed.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 12-   Compound or single: Single-   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed.        -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm) 5 cm. Length (cm): 7 cm.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.        -   Margin.—Lobed.        -   Surface characteristics.—Top: slightly pubescent. Bottom:            pubescent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Color.—137C.        -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.-   Venation: Net prominent mid vein at underside    -   -   Color.—Upper side: near 137B. Under side: near 137D.-   Color:    -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—Near 137A; under side: near 137D.        -   Young leaf, upper side.—Near 138A; under side: near 137C.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte-   Flower type: Single-   Flower form: Slightly cupped-   Flower shape: Round-   Flowering habit: Flat capitulum-   Number of blossoms per branch: 4-   Inflorescence form: Cyme    -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—2 cm.        -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—6 cm.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—25.        -   Color.—Near 137B.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture/appearance.—Pubescent.-   Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and    progressively longer moving down the stem.    -   -   Length.—10 cm (average).        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near 137B.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly curving.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Terminal: 4 cm; lateral: 5 cm.        -   Color.—Near 137B.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly curving.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Straight and spatulate with oblong shape.        -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—32.        -   Length.—4 cm; Width: 0.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Texture/appearance.—Shiny.        -   Number per flower.—150.        -   Length.—0.4 cm; Width: —0.1 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—1.5 cm.-   Fragrance: None observed-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Diameter.—1 cm.        -   Form/shape.—Globular.-   General flower color:    -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side: 24B. Immature: near 24A. Mature:            near 24B. Older/Fading: near 24C.        -   2. Ray florets, under side.—24B. Immature: near 24B. Mature:            near 24B. Older/Fading: Near 24C.        -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 151B. Mature: near 151B.            Older/Fading: near 21C.        -   4. Bud.—19A.-   Flower progression with age: Flower form does not change but there    is a slight color fading with age.-   Lastingness of blooms: About 21 days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium: Present on Ray and Disc florets.-   Ray florets per individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—32.        -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—Near 6C.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.-   Disc florets per individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—130.        -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—Near 6C.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.-   Androecium: Not observed.-   Fruit and Seeds: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.